Performing & Fine Arts and Faculty Mentorship with Zora

Transcript

Please say hello to Zora, a sophomore who is taking full advantage of Portland’s close knit network of over 200 performing and fine arts venues. With close proximity and faculty connections to the thriving arts scene, Zora can perform both on and off campus, all while taking advantage of a wide range of faculty research projects and internships. You’re on Zora.

– Thanks Alex, growing up, I was always super involved in theater and music. I love the way performance brings people together through a shared experience, but I also have a deep love for history and literature and I knew I wanted to attend a college where I wouldn’t have to give up my interests. I toured UP after a colleague of mine at a local Shakespeare company, shared how great their experience here had been and I knew it was the perfect fit for me. Here at UP, I’ve been able to do it all, I performed in plays on stage, I worked backstage building costumes as a student worker in the costume shop, I play violin in the orchestra, and I’m a member of the University Singers. UP’s small class sizes and sense of community have allowed me to foster strong relationships with my professors and seize unique opportunities like participating in the brand new Arts Administration Major, which blends business and performance classes and connects students to jobs and internships in one of the more than 200 arts organizations in Portland. At UP, I’ve also had the opportunity to work in areas outside of my major. Currently I’m on a team with a theology professor, investigating the intersections of queerness and faith at Holy Cross Institutions. The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience, or SURE, is one of the many ways students can gain valuable research experience as early as their first year, a rarity at larger universities. I’m excited to know my UP education is preparing me to enter the world of performing arts with a well-rounded education that will help me stand out in my industry. That’s all from me, Alex, back to you.

– Thank you, Zora, you’ve had incredible experiences on stage, backstage, and in the classroom. It’s clear that UP’s faculty are invested in helping students to pursue all their interests and with so much to explore in Portland, you never know where that might lead. Have fun out there, Zora.